Hey Juniors—Congratulations! It may seem like passing the half-way point of your high school career isn’t that big of a deal when your school is probably focused on getting freshmen acquainted with campus and helping the seniors apply to college, but make no mistake—this is your big year, and you should treat it as such!
When you apply to colleges, your junior year transcripts will provide the most recent academic information that we have about you, and while this is very important to remember, it’s not the only reason this is a big year for you!
We expect that you’ve got a lot going on right now—you’re still maturing into the person you want to be, taking challenging courses, exploring your passions, taking on more responsibility, and thinking a lot about what the future may hold for you. To help you navigate it, we’ve got some Jumbo words of wisdom for you!
J–Just breathe. A classic piece of advice, but an important one! It can be good to find yourself challenged by all of this—that’s part of growth, after all—but it’s equally important to know when to take a step back and take the time to relax.
U–Use your resources. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for support from the people who are there to help you—this could be family, friends, or teachers/counselors at your school. Learning how to ask for help is an important skill you’ll certainly use in college, and it is smart to start honing it now.
M–Make time for your friends, family, and community. Remember that you are more than your academic record, and you, like any person, have emotional needs that need to be met by your community! We aren’t just looking for students for our classrooms, we’re looking for people for our community. Spend time with the people you love, and think about what type of community you will want to call home after graduation.
B–Be yourself. Another classic, we know, but it bears repeating. The admissions process is geared so that we can learn as much about you as possible, and the better you connect with yourself prior to applying, the easier that process will be for you! Authenticity and following your own path is what really shines in an application. So find the things that bring meaning to you, and go after them!
O–Open your mind. Maybe this year will bring a new club, or a new academic interest. Don’t let the fear of “but it’s too late!” keep you from trying something new. Sometimes, the experiences that spark our passions are hiding in plain sight.
You've got this!